Arrest warrant for Tarique Rahman in a libel case

A Dhaka court has issued an arrest warrant for senior BNP leader Tarique Rahman in a libel suit.

Court Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 10 Dec 2014, 08:29 AM
Updated : 10 Dec 2014, 08:29 AM

Khaleda Zia's elder son Tarique has been living in London since 2008.

On Nov 17, the court of Dhaka's Chief Metropolitan Magistrate instructed the BNP Senior Vice Chairman to appear before the court on Wednesday in defamation case filed by Awami League leader Monir Khan.

Following his absence in court, Metropolitan Magistrate Ataul Haque issued the arrest warrant.

It also instructed the police to file a progress report on the arrest by Jan 29.

The case refers to Tarique Rahman's Nov 7 speech at function in London, where he had said Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman returned to Bangladesh 'with a Pakistani passport' in 1972 and took office as the president-- for which he should be charged for 'treason'.

He had also then labelled the founding father of Bangladesh as 'Pakbandhu'.

The case filed by the ruling party Central Sub-Committee's Assistant Secretary Monir Khan claims that Tarique's statement defamed Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the Awami League.

Several other cases, including accusations of treason, have been filed against Tarique in the courts of Dhaka, Jessore and Sherpur over his statement.

Several corruption cases were lodged against Tarique Rahman after he was arrested on Mar 7, 2007, during the state of emergency.

In September next year, after securing a bail from the Supreme Court, Tarique went to the UK citing medical reasons.

He has been in London ever since, often attending BNP events in the city.